Reports: Gary Kirsten, head coach of Pakistan, criticises the team for their poor performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup

In the aftermath, reports of discord within Babar Azam’s team were allegedly made by Gary Kirsten, the recently hired head coach of Pakistan. A close three-wicket victory over Ireland was little solace for Pakistan’s terrible failure of a T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. The Men in Green lost two of their four group-stage matches against India and the United States, meaning they were eliminated from the Super Eights.

Gary Kirsten was appointed Pakistan’s coach just weeks before the big event, having coached India to World Cup triumph in 2011. Pakistan, on the other hand, fared poorly, winning just two of their four group matches against Ireland and Canada. Remarks of Kirsten’s apparent lack of unity in the dressing room started to circulate a day after their elimination.

Gary Kirsten discussed the approximate formula among the players, as reported by seasoned Pakistani journalist Ihtisham Ul Haq in an NDTV Sports story. He went so far as to discuss the absence of team spirit.

“The Pakistani squad, although they refer to it as such, lacks cohesion. They don’t help one another; instead, they are divided into left and right groups. I’ve worked with a lot of teams, but I’ve never encountered something like this,” Ul Haq posted on X.

Babar will not be going back to Pakistan with the other five players.

Former Pakistani President Arif Alvi responded to the purported remarks in an unexpected way. Reposting the statement, Alvi proposed filing First Information Reports (FIRs) and placing Gary Kirsten on the Exit Control List for undermining Pakistan’s unity and integrity throughout the country’s cricket hubs. Alvi added, though, that he was just kidding.

Also read: Babar Azam’s spot on Pakistan’s T20I squad is questioned by Virender Sehwag

“Pakistan’s integrity and unity are being attacked. We have information from reliable sources (cypher) that he is directly influenced by foreign interests to work against our ideas. The PCB’s patron has directed swift action, which includes his name being added to the ECL and FIRs being registered in all of Pakistan’s cricket playing centres. To Gary! It’s a pun, so don’t worry about it. Alvi urged, “Try your hardest to save our struggling cricket squad.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, and five other important players will not arrive in Karachi.

Following their World Cup defeat, captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan have decided to take their holidays in London before going back to Pakistan. Some even plan to participate in regional leagues in the United Kingdom.

The six players will not go to Pakistan on Tuesday along with the rest of the team. Head coach Kirsten and assistant Azhar Mahmood, who have no imminent tasks for Pakistan, have been allowed leave by the PCB to return to their home countries.